Friday 19 July 1940

Friday 19 July 1940

Dover raided. Defiant squadron largely destroyed.

Night: Some activity between Isle of Wight and Plymouth, Thames Estuary and Harwich.

Main Activity:

At 1245 hours, nine Defiants of No. 141 Squadron were bounced by Bf 109s of III/JG 51 south of Folkestone. Six aircraft were lost in rapid succession before Hurricanes from No. 111 Squadron arrived to break up the attack and allow the remaining Defiants to return to Hawkinge. One Bf 109 was severely damaged and crashed on landing.

At 1431 hours, twelve Hurricanes of No. 43 Squadron encountered a formation of Bf 109s from III/JG 27 off Selsey Bill. In the ensuing combat, two Hurricanes were shot down and one Bf 109 returned damaged.

At 1600 hours, a formation Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers, escorted by Bf 109s from III/JG 51, attacked Dover. They were engaged by Hurricanes and Spitfires from Nos. 32, 64, and 74 Squadrons. In the resulting action, one Hurricane was shot down and two Spitfires were damaged. Two Bf 109s were also badly damaged. The British destroyers Griffin and Beagle were both damaged by near misses but sustained no casualties. The armed trawler Crestflower was bombed and sunk while the tanker RFA War Sepoy was severely damaged, broken in two and subsequently used as a blockship outside Dover Harbour.